Proverbs 4:11 (YLT)

Passage

In a way of wisdom I have directed thee, I have caused thee to tread in paths of uprightness.

Nearby Context

Proverbs 4:9 She giveth to thy head a wreath of grace, A crown of beauty she doth give thee freely.

Proverbs 4:10 Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, And years of life <FI>are<Fi> multiplied to thee.

Proverbs 4:11 In a way of wisdom I have directed thee, I have caused thee to tread in paths of uprightness.

Proverbs 4:12 In thy walking thy step is not straitened, And if thou runnest, thou stumblest not.

Proverbs 4:13 Lay hold on instruction, do not desist, Keep her, for she <FI>is<Fi> thy life.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "wisdom", "directed", "thee", "caused", "tread", "paths", and "uprightness". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "wisdom" and "directed", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 10's "Hear my son and receive my sayings..." into verse 12's "In thy walking thy step is not...", so "wisdom" and "directed" belong inside that flow. In Proverbs context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "wisdom" and "directed" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.